Wes Burns started and Nathan Broadhead came off the bench as Wales beat Montenegro 1-0 in a Nations League tie at the Cardiff City Stadium.
Burns, winning his 10th full cap and playing wide on the left, should have opened his international goals account in the 12th minute but headed wide at the far post from Harry Wilson’s right-wing cross.
The wideman’s pace - as well as one clever turn - caused the Montenegrins problems as Wales had a strong first half and went ahead via Fulham forward Wilson’s 36th-minute penalty.
In the second half, with Montenegro having improved, Burns again went close in 58 when he curled wide after the visitors’ keeper had been caught in possession and Wales had worked the ball to him on the left.
Two minutes later, the 29-year-old created a chance, breaking into the area on the left and cutting back right-footed but the players in the middle got in one another’s way.
Burns made way in the 69th minute as Broadhead, 26, was handed his first senior minutes of the season, a hamstring injury suffered at the start of pre-season having seen him miss the September internationals and Town’s strength in depth in wide attacking roles having kept him out of the matchday squad since he returned to fitness.
Despite not having played a first-team game since featuring for Wales at the start of June, Broadhead looked sharp for the most part as he won his 13th full cap, but will feel he ought to have scored in the 79th minute when found breaking down the middle but was unable to get the ball under control.
Wales, who are unbeaten in new manager Craig Bellamy’s first four matches in charge, remain second in Group B4.